Judge dismisses misconduct charge for Todd Courser

LANSING, MICH. - A judge has dismissed a misconduct charge against a former Michigan state lawmaker who quit office amid a sex scandal last year.

Republican Todd Courser still faces a perjury charge in the case in Ingham County Circuit Court.

The Detroit News reports that Judge William Collette dismissed the misconduct in office charge Thursday. MLive.com reports that Courser's attorney, Matthew DePerno, argued that there was no criminal element to the charge related to an alleged violation of a state House rule.

The attorney general's office plans to proceed with the perjury charge and a misconduct charge in Lapeer County.

Courser resigned before lawmakers voted to expel fellow GOP Rep. Cindy Gamrat. He's accused of soliciting an aide to send a phony email to cover up an affair with Gamrat. Charges against Gamrat have been dismissed.